Chalmette, Louisiana

Chalmette is a Census Designated Place (CDP) that is located in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Just two miles from New Orleans city limits, and adjacent to the Mississippi River, this CDP’s economy was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but is making great strides toward the reconstruction of its industries.

Settlers first arrived in the area that would become Chalmette in the 18th century, and were mostly involved in farming and river trade. As New Orleans began to grow in size and population, Chalmette also expanded. In the 20th century, manufacturing plants and other industrial centers proliferated, largely due to the Mississippi’s proximity and the burgeoning oil trade.

By the year 2000, Chalmette boasted over 30,000 inhabitants. To date, the majority of the workforce is engaged in construction and manufacturing jobs, in a reflection of the blue collar backbone of this area of Louisiana. The popularity of construction jobs can be partially attributed to the increase of residences in Chalmette in the latter half of the 20th century. Manufacturing is most visibly related to the oil refineries in the area, including Chalmette Refining, L.L.C., and Murphy Oil.

The latter company acquired new significance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Chalmette. Many of the homes, businesses and other structures in the CDP were completely destroyed. Additionally, the Murphy Oil facility experienced a massive oil spill that contaminated the area. In the aftermath of the hurricane, Chalmette has met with severe difficulties in terms of rebuilding. A severe decrease in population, combined with the loss of infrastructure, has made it an uphill battle for residents to restore the CDP’s economy. In the past several years, however, efforts have been made to diversify the industries in Chalmette. Notably, a number of new retail centers have been constructed, in order to cater to both the returning Chalmette inhabitants and residents of nearby Orleans Parish. Additionally, St. Bernard Parish has strengthened its promotion of tourism. This includes the Chalmette Battlefield, the site of the Battle of New Orleans. Once these new industries gain strength in the area, it is likely that Chalmette’s economy will drastically improve.

If you have any questions about your Chalmette, Louisiana legal matter, please give Lavis Law Firm a call at toll free 1–866–558–9151 or submit your inquiry online. We help people recover money from corporations, insurance companies and governments by overcoming problems, hassles and delays.